"Lin Kai, I've been waiting for you all in Dorm 404 for so long. Didn't we agree to play a game together? Why haven't you come yet?"
Pan Linkai sent Lu Fei a screenshot of a WeChat message he received.
The sender's profile picture belonged to Guo Haitao. The message was sent precisely at midnight.
When Pan Linkai saw the message in the morning, he was utterly shaken.
"Lu Fei, you have to believe me—this is not a prank. I wouldn't waste my time on something like this," he said, his voice trembling. "I checked the profile—it's really Haitao, not someone impersonating him."
"What do we do, Lu Fei? He's coming after me. He must think we're responsible for his death because we took him to the Ghost Building."
"But why only me? Weren't Daliang and Xiaoming there too? I asked them—they haven't received anything."
Dorm 404 was the most infamous haunted location in their old school district.
It was where the four of them had played the Four Corners game.
"Lin Kai, calm down," Lu Fei said, his tone steady. He didn't think it was a prank either. His mind immediately went to Guo Haitao's phone.
The phone was likely not just shrouded in negative energy but also imbued with Haitao's lingering resentment.
Young and full of potential, he was killed by a ghost—a death bound to leave unresolved anger.
"How can I calm down? He's texting me! He's definitely going to come after me!" Pan Linkai was panicking, unable to find anyone else to turn to.
"Lu Fei, I saw you give Aunt Guo a talisman that day. What was it? Can I have one too?"
"A protective talisman isn't enough to solve this problem." Lu Fei thought for a moment. "Lin Kai, how about we visit Haitao's house again?"
"Go back? Isn't that like walking into a trap?"
"Last time, we went to check on his parents. This time, we'll bring incense, candles, and paper offerings specifically to pay our respects to him. If we show sincerity, perhaps he'll rest in peace and stop bothering you. Don't you think?"
When dealing with malevolent spirits, it's often best to try a respectful approach first. Especially since Guo Haitao was once their college roommate, Lu Fei sincerely hoped he could find peace.
"Will that work?" Pan Linkai hesitated.
"Do you have a better idea?" Lu Fei asked.
"If worst comes to worst, I'll do what Daliang and Xiaoming did—I'll leave town. I don't believe he can find me if I go far away." Pan Linkai gritted his teeth.
"You can try," Lu Fei said, ready to hang up.
"Wait, Lu Fei…" Pan Linkai hesitated before relenting. "Fine, I'll go. My current job wasn't easy for my family to secure. If I quit and leave town, my parents would kill me."
"Good. You'll need to buy incense, candles, and paper money. Don't skimp—get quality offerings. Also, bring some of Haitao's favorite foods. Those who die with unresolved grievances often hold onto their anger. Satisfying their wishes can help them move on."
Pan Linkai was silent for a moment, absorbing the instructions.
"Lu Fei, how do you know so much about this?"
"I'll contact Haitao's parents and let you know the time."
Without answering the question, Lu Fei hung up and messaged their class monitor, Wang Feng, to get Guo Haitao's parents' contact information. He then called Guo's father.
When Guo's father heard about their intention to visit and pay respects, he was deeply touched.
They scheduled the visit for the next morning.
The next day, Lu Fei waited outside Guo Haitao's apartment complex.
It wasn't long before Pan Linkai arrived, laden with bags.
"Lu Fei, do you think this is enough?"
Lu Fei glanced at the items. There was quite a lot, but they all seemed cheap.
"I haven't been paid yet, so I'm a bit short on cash," Pan Linkai said awkwardly.
"It's fine. The thought counts."
Lu Fei took some of the bags to help and led the way upstairs.
Guo's father opened the door for them again.
In just a few days, the man looked even older, his hair grayer, his expression more sorrowful.
"Uncle Guo, you must take care of yourself," Lu Fei said sincerely, thinking of his own grandfather.
"Thank you, child. I'm managing, but Haitao's mother… She's having a harder time. If you have the chance, please talk to her," Guo's father said, glancing toward the kitchen.
Guo's mother was cooking, seeming normal at first glance, but the worry in Guo's father's eyes betrayed the truth.
After some polite conversation, Lu Fei and Pan Linkai went to pay their respects to Guo Haitao.
Inside the apartment, a memorial table had been set up with Haitao's photo.
In black and white, Haitao's faint smile seemed to gaze at them from the frame.
Pan Linkai felt uneasy but mustered his courage with Lu Fei by his side.
He carefully placed the offerings on the table, lit incense, and spoke softly.
"Haitao, your death wasn't my fault. We played the game together—we didn't know what would happen afterward. I'll help take care of your parents, so please, don't come after me."
After making his offering, he planted the incense in the burner and turned to Lu Fei.
"Is that enough?"
"Let's check on Aunt Guo," Lu Fei said. His primary goal for the visit was to examine Guo Haitao's phone.
As they turned around, they saw Guo's mother standing in the doorway, her expression blank.
Her face was pale, almost greenish, and she was clutching Haitao's blood-stained phone to her chest. Her chilling gaze fixed on them.
Pan Linkai shuddered violently, and even Lu Fei felt his heart skip a beat.
The phone radiated a palpable, intensified malevolent energy that seemed to have affected Guo's mother.
Her complexion was poor, and dark circles had formed under her eyes.
"Aunt Guo, did you find that message? Would you like me to help you get the phone repaired?" Lu Fei approached her with a calm smile.
"You want to take Haitao's belongings!" Guo's mother shouted, clutching the phone protectively and glaring at Lu Fei with pure hatred.
"Dear, look carefully! They're Haitao's classmates, here to visit him," Guo's father said, stepping in to explain.
But she wouldn't listen. It was as if she were possessed, her hostility extending even to her husband.
"You're all trying to hurt my son! Don't come near me! I'll fight you!" she screamed incoherently, her behavior unsettlingly aggressive.
"Okay, okay, we won't touch anything. Please calm down and rest inside," Guo's father coaxed gently.
Grumbling to herself, she retreated to her room, still clutching the phone.
"You see how she's getting worse. Lately, she's been saying Haitao calls her. She swears she hears his voice," Guo's father sighed deeply.
"Uncle Guo, I gave her a protective talisman last time. Didn't she wear it?" Lu Fei asked.
"Talisman? I haven't seen one. Maybe she lost it?" Guo's father replied, puzzled.
"Lost it?" Lu Fei frowned.
No wonder the negative energy surrounding the phone hadn't diminished—it had grown worse. Without the talisman's protection, the phone had likely turned into a cursed object, corrupting her mind.
Lu Fei's expression turned serious.
"Uncle Guo, I'll be honest. Aunt Guo's condition is dire. She must be separated from that phone, or she'll suffer further harm."